Bleaching and deodorizing oxidation products of high-molecular hydrocarbons



Patented May 6, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HANS FRANZEN AND MARTIN LUTHER, OF MANNHEIM, GERMANY, ASSIGNOBIS TO I. G. FARBENINDUSTBIE AKTIENGESELLSCHAIT, OF FRANKFORT-ON-TIIE-MAIH,

GERMANY, A. CORPORATION OF GERMANY BLEACHIING AND DEODORIZING OXIDATION IPRODU'CTS OF HIGH-MOLEO'UIAB HYDRO- CABBDNS No Drawing. Application filed January 5, 1929, Serial No. 330,628, and in Germany February The present invention relates to improvements in bleaching and deodorizing oxidagion products of high-molecular hydrocarons.

The products obtainable by an oxidation of high-molecular hydrocarbons, especially of paraffin wax, possess rather often .a dark color and a disa reeable smell in the crude state as well as a ter a purification according to the methods hitherto employed, which properties reduce the value of the products, for example, in the manufacture of soap, the soap retaining the smell and color of the initial materials We have now found that these products can be converted into pale colored materials with an agreeable smell or with out any smell altogether by treating the said roducts with hydrogen.- The reduction can e performed, for example, by a treatment with metals and acids forming hydrogen, or electrolytically. Suitable agents are, for example, zinc or iron and aqueous sulphuric acid. The reduction can be performed in stages by adding, for example, when the process is performed by means of metals and aqueous solutions of acids, at first onl some part of the reducing agent required, rawing then off the waste solution, adding a further quantity of reducing agent, and so on until the desired effect is attained. The initial materials can also be purified, from the unsaponifiable matter for example, by extraction with solvents such as methanol or pyridine, or by a treatment with adsorption agents, such as fullers earth, animal charcoal, kieselguhr and the like, and/or an aftertreatment of the bleached product with such agents can be performed. The treatment can be carried out in the cold as well as while heating, for example, up to about 100 C.

The products obtainable when working in accordance with the aforedescribed process are of high Value for all branches of the industry which employ fatty acids, and particularly for the manufacture of soap.

The following examples will further illustrate the nature of this inventionfbut the invention is not restricted to these examples.

Example 1 1000 parts of a crude, dark colored and bad smelling oxidation product of paraflin wax are intimately mixed at C., while stirring, with 50 parts of zinc powder whereupon 1000 parts of an aqueous 20 per cent sulphuric acid are added, .whereby the sin le r components mix with each other with t e formation of an emulsion. After stirring for 1 hour during which period of time the temperature is slowly raised to about to (1., the mixture is allowed to settle, whereby twolayers are formed. The acid lower layer is then removed and the bleached oily roduct is washed with water until no sulp uric acid is detected. The final product obtained possesses a pale color and is particularly suitable for the manufacture of pale soap.

Example 2 1000 parts of a crude, nearly black colored and bad smelling mixture of fatty acids obtained by an oxidation of paraffin wax and freed from all byproducts, such as remainders of paraffin wax or alcohols, is heated while stirring, to a temperature of 90 C. 20 parts of zinc powder and subsequently 1000 parts of an aqueous 12 per cent hydrochloric acid are run into the liquid in such a manner that an emulsion is obtained. After stirring for half an hour at 90 to C the mass is allowed to settle and the aqueous lower layer is then drawn ofi'. The product is then treated again in the same manner as set out. The bleached mixture of fatty acids is then washed as described in Example 1, a pale ellow product without any substantial smell ein finally obtained.

W at we claim is 1. The process of bleaching and deordorizing oxidation products of high molecular hydrocarbons which comprises treating a colored and bad smelling oxidation product of high-molecular hydrocarbons with hydrogen.

2. The process of bleaching and deodorizing oxidation products of high molecular hydrocarbons which comprises treatin acolored and bad smelling oxidation pro not of high-molecular hydrocarbons with hydrogen while hot.

3. The process of bleachin and deodorizing oxidation roducts of big molecular hydrocarbons w 'ch comprises treating a colored 'and bad smelling oxidation product of high molecular hydrocarbons with nascent hydrogen.

4. The process of bleachin and deodorizing oxidation roducts of igh molecular hydrocarbons w ich comprisestreatin a col;

ored and bad smelling oxidation pr not of high molecular hydrocarbons with a mixture of a metal and an acid furnishing.-nascent hydrogen.

5. The process of bleaching and deodorizing oxidation products of paraffin wax comprises treating a colored. and bad smelling oxidation I roduct -0f paraflin wax with nascent hy rogen. i

6. The process of bleaching and deodorizing oxidation' products of parafiin'wax which comprisestre'ating a colored and bad smelling oxidation product of parafiin wax with a mixture of a metal and an acid furnishing nascent'hydrogen; I

In testimony whereof We -have hereunto set our hands.

' HANS FRANZEN. p MARTIN LUTHER. 

